Wondering what the Reentry Roundtable has been up to this past year?
Strategic Goal: Engaging Diverse Stakeholders Impacted by Reentry
This year, the Roundtable engaged community leaders and policymakers across the region and state to better understand the impacts of incarceration and reentry on diverse communities, including the following activities:
- Supported the Reentry Advocacy Project (RAP) in developing a vision and organizational identity statement
- Engaged with key stakeholders at the University of Texas to launch a formerly incarcerated student group on the UT-Austin campus
- Attended Manor ISD Faith-Based Alliance to engage with Manor-area faith communities, school district and police department about reentry
- Sponsored and participated in the Central Texas African American Family Support Conference
- Recruited persons with lived experience in the criminal justice system to serve as volunteers for a reentry simulation at the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) conference
Strategic Goal: Convening Dialogue and Critical Conversations
The Roundtable is uniquely positioned as a convener to support transformational change in our local criminal justice system and in related areas including employment/workforce development, behavioral health care, and housing stability. This year, activities included:
- Engaged key stakeholders to discuss reentry-related issues in the 86th Texas Legislative Session
- Co-convened sessions with Austin Community College on supports for persons with barriers to employment
- Engaged in discussions related to jail diversion strategies with Travis County Justice Planning and other community stakeholders
- Partnered with the Austin Manufacturers Association to educate and engage employers about the benefits of fair chance hiring
- Hosted the second annual RAP Speaks storytelling event
- Recorded video testimonials of 12 persons with lived experience in the criminal justice system
Strategic Goal: Advocating to Support Institutional and Public Policy Change
The Roundtable serves as an intersectional network to build momentum for system change in criminal justice and reentry. This year, we focused on:
- Recognized by the Community Advancement Network (CAN) for contributions in advancing fair housing in Central Texas through the Central Texas
- Attended Vera Institute’s Housing Summit in New Orleans to discuss the Roundtable’s Housing Guide and Template for Criminal Background Screening
- Presented to the Community Advancement Network Board of Directors and the Travis County Commissioners Court
- Participated in Amplify Austin for the first time as a fiscally-sponsored entity of the Austin Community Foundation
- Through engagement in the Leadership Austin Fellowship Program, developed the Fair Chance Hiring Champion Fellowship to engage employers about the benefits of fair chance employment
- Successfully advocated for inclusion of the Criminal Background Screening Guide for Rental Housing Providers in City of Austin Affordable Housing General Obligation Bond scoring criteria